Sci-Fi Film Week｜Sci-Fi Films Brings in the Future Engine of Multiverse

On June 11th, Science and Film Fusion Forum, the third of the Sci-Fi Film Week forums jointly organized by the Shanghai International Film Festival, the China Film Association, the Songjiang District Party Committee, and the People’s Government of Songjiang District, was held. At the event, representatives of film projects gathered to discuss “Future Engine: Prospects of for Sci-Fi Film of the Year” and unveiled a batch of major sci-fi film projects and brand-new materials. Wang Hongwei, Vice President of the China Film Directors’ Guild, reviewed the development trajectory of Chinese sci-fi films in recent years, and gave suggestions and expressed expectations for Chinese sci-fi films.

Representatives for five sci-fi films, THE 749 BUREAU, THE DECISIVE MOMENT, MOLLY, THE BOY WHO COUNTED CARS, and SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TOMORROW,took the stage one by one to introduce their projects, showcasing the prospects for the rising Chinese sci-fi film industry to the audience.

Sci-Fi Films Need Genre Integration

“In recent years, Chinese sci-fi films have been continuously growing, making breakthroughs in various aspects such as storytelling and aesthetics,” Wang Hongwei summarized the development of Chinese sci-fi films and analyzed the current situation at the sharing session. He believes that on the one hand, many young people consume sci-fi films in certain contexts, and on the other hand, the industry consumes sci-fi films in another way where no constructive or practical results have been produced. Therefore, he called for “more practical attention to sci-fi films.”

Wang Hongwei pointed out that sci-fi is not a standalone film genre; it must integrate one or more film genres to provide directors with tremendous creative space and surprise the audience. This approach also helps young directors interested in sci-fi films to develop and upgrade their skills in creation and shooting. He hopes that more directors, companies, and audiences can support young directors in making sci-fi films, allowing more young directors to truly grow in this field.

Unlocking Multiverse Through Imagination

During the project introduction, director Lu Chuan presented the sci-fi film THE 749 BUREAU. This film is a story about youth, growth, and how a young person overcomes inner obstacles to embrace the world. In Lu Chuan’s view, all sci-fi films must have strong character stories and a solid logical foundation for the plot.

“Sometime in the future, Chinese astronaut Liu Chen and her partners encounter complex situations and lose contact with the ground during their journey back to Earth. In a critical moment, the astronauts receive an electronic signal with a hidden, mysterious code that will completely change their lives.” Producer Zhang Yiwen shared the development and production process of the sci-fi film A DECISIVE MOMENT. The production team not only invited aerospace science experts but also devoted a great deal of effort to the story and plot development. The first conceptual poster was also unveiled at the event. When the movie is officially released, everyone will understand the thoughtful design behind it, said Zhang Yiwen.

MOLLY tells an intriguing sci-fi story in a family, with the backdrop set in 2030 Hangzhou. How can you preserve both the imaginative sci-fi elements and a tangible sense of reality in a near-future narrative? Producer Liu Qingling explained that they made four efforts: firstly, constructing a botanical worldview that serves as both a metaphor for human and human relationships and a way for the audience to approach the near-future story through familiar and relatable elements; secondly, presenting the robot character Lu in a way that doesn’t deviate from the audience’s perception of robots while still offering surprises in its design; thirdly, ensuring that the film is logical and science-based and that the character design is reasonable; and fourthly, selecting actors who closely match their roles. Liu Qingling aims to inspire the audience through this film: “As long as you dare to take adventures, anything is possible.”

If reality and virtuality have already merged, does true emotion still exist? In the story conceptualized by director Yan Yizhi in THE BOY WHO COUNTED CARS, perhaps we will find an answer. In recent years, Yan Yizhi has been writing sci-fi scripts. He believes sci-fi films need to start with characters and emotions, incorporating the creator’s philosophical reflections. As a genre film, sci-fi can also be entertaining, capturing the audience’s attention at every moment. In his view, sci-fi can be a win-win genre that is universally appealing, where every viewer can find what they want to see in it.

At the Science and Film Fusion Forum, Lu Fanxi, Vice President of Bilibili and Head of Bilibili Film and Television Production Center, noted that it is difficult to define the creations of young people with a single label or genre, and therefore the intention is to explore the diverse possibilities of sci-fi in the future together with young creators.

As the executive producer of the sci-fi series SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TOMORROW, Lu Fanxi stated that young Chinese directors are making new attempts to unlock the multiverse. The series consists of six episodes with different themes, covering areas such as space and AI. The initial purpose of developing this project was to discover more promising creators, strengthen the foundation of the pyramid, and elevate the standards of creation by young Chinese directors. SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TOMORROW will utilize the concept of “tomorrow” to explore the development direction of sci-fi films together with the audiences.

After the project presentations, Wang Hongwei summarized, “The five projects from ten directors brought fresh sci-fi films to us today and instilled confidence in the industry. We look forward to the unleashing of imagination and a promising future for Chinese sci-fi films.”